10 things to do this summer

The Olympic Torch will arrive on Scottish soil from Northern Ireland marking days 21-27 of its epic journey. It will travel from Stranraer, through Ayrshire & Arran to Glasgow (June 8), before heading to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs then on to Inverness (June 9).

Next it will be the turn of Orkney and Shetland, with stops in Kirkwall and Lerwick (June 10), followed by Stornoway and the Isle of Lewis, Highlands, Moray Speyside and Aberdeen (June 11).

Aberdeenshire, Dundee & Angus, Perthshire and Fife are next (June 12), followed by Forth Valley, Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire and Edinburgh (June 13), then East Lothian, Midlothian and the Borders (June 14). After a tour of the north of England, the torch returns to Dumfries & Galloway for a few hours on June 21.

www.visitscotland.com/see-do/itineraries/olympic-torch-relay

Leith Festival, Edinburgh

Friday June 8-17

There's breakdancing lessons, dragon boat racing, Scotland's tallest puppet and a 1980s-themed murder mystery with "big hair".

Irvine Welsh fans can follow in the footsteps of Renton and co on the Trainspotting tour, while for maritime buffs there's Sea Songs, a collection of original artwork by Richie Collins and Ronnie Fulton inspired by Leith's seafaring past. Tapping into the area's seedier side, comic Susan Morrison will lead a red-light district walk.

But there is plenty of family-friendly fun too with the Leith Festival Gala Day Pageant on the Saturday of the opening weekend.

www.leithfestival.com

Mountain Bike World Cup, Fort William

Saturday June 9-10

The world's top mountain bikers will converge on Fort William to do battle on the slopes of the Nevis Range.

Competing on a track ranked among the most extreme on the circuit, the line-up includes reigning men's world title holder, Danny Hart, and 2011 women's world champion, Tracy Moseley.

Providing an epic soundtrack in the Downhill Downtown zone will be King Creosote, The Phantom Band, Admiral Fallow, Stanley Odd, and Bwani Junction.

www.fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk

Orkney Wine Festival

Saturday June 9-16

Who said it had to be all about whisky? Scotland's only annual wine festival will see importer Mike Stewart lead a South African safari, expert Bruce Kendrick give a tasting tour of the valleys of South Australia and Duncan McLean of Wool and Wine Shop offer a masterclass in Spain's less well known varieties.There's also Stars of the North Isle, an appreciation of wines from New Zealand's Martinborough region.

www.thelongship.co.uk

Borders Book Festival, Melrose

Thursday June 14-17

Booker prize winner Hilary Mantel, culinary legend Prue Leith and explorer/cyclist Mark Beaumont are on the bill, alongside Sir David Frost, former chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, and crime writing duo Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre.

Kirsty Wark, James Naughtie and Rory Bremner will talk politics, while comic novelist Kathy Lette will show a different side to her repertoire as she speaks about her latest book, The Boy Who Fell to Earth, which draws on her experience of having a son with Asperger's Syndrome.

Simon Watt, presenter of Channel 4's fascinating docu-series Inside Nature's Giants will give the inside track on getting beneath the skin of some of the largest animals on the planet.

www.bordersbookfestival.org

Eden Festival, Raehills Meadows, Dumfries & Galloway

Friday June 15-17

From indie rocker Badly Drawn Boy to underground ska, folk, reggae and dubstep, the Eden Festival has something to tempt all sorts of musos.

Indulge in a spot of tango at the open air Devorgilla Stage, brush up on your Dashing White Sergeant at Rabbie's Tavern nightly ceilidh or head to the kookily eclectic My Giddy Aunts Cabaret Stage, home to a heady swirl of cabaret, cinema, open mic and burlesque.

Spinning Jenny's Shenanigans circus skills tent provides an opportunity to try your hand at juggling, diabolo and spinning plates, while for a laid back vibe the Mystic Sauna returns by popular demand in a top secret location near the "nude is good" stage.

www.edenfestival.co.uk

The Big Concert, Stirling

Thursday June 21

This midsummer night spectacular will see Gustavo Dudamel and The Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela perform an outdoor concert in the heart of Raploch in Stirling.

Marking the opening of the London 2012 festival, the evening will include a special guest appearance from local children's orchestra, Big Noise, while Dudamel and the Venezuelans will perform Beethoven's Third Symphony.

Proceedings will be concluded with a fireworks display, set against the backdrop of Stirling Castle, the Ochil Hills and Wallace Monument.

www.makeabignoise.org.uk

470 Open European Championship 2012, Largs, Ayrshire

Monday June 25-July 4

The world's top sailors will arrive in Largs for one of their final showdowns ahead of the Olympics. Sports fans will get to see the bulk of the Olympic 470 fleet competing on home waters, with up to 100 leading crews. European champions Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic of Croatia are expected to be there to defend their title. www.470europeans2012

Southern Fried Festival, Perth

Friday July 27-29

Bringing a slice of Americana to Perth, a host of international and homegrown blues, soul and country artists, including Grammy-award winning John Prine, Gretchen Peters and Darrell Scott will grace stages across the city.

To mark what would have been Johnny Cash's 80th year there will be a special tribute evening to The Man In Black featuring Ruthie Foster, Dick Gaughan, Lera Lynn, My Darling Clementine, while also on the bill is Brunch with Gram Parsons featuring The City Sinners.

If you like your music with a side of soul food, the Glassrooms restaurant at Perth Concert Hall will be tapping into the Southern vibe with a menu that includes fried okra, peach cobbler, corn bread and brisket.

www.southernfriedfestival.co.uk

Celebration of the Centuries, Fort George, Inverness-shire

Saturday August 11-12

Jousting, battle re-enactments and jiving to the sounds of the 1940s are among the highlights of this lively festival in the grounds of Fort George.

Immerse yourself in the action with living history camps, interactive games and the breathtaking spectacle of a Second World War Spitfire fighter plane aerial display.

Fort George itself is well worth the visit. Built in the aftermath of the 1746 Battle of Culloden which crushed the final Jacobite rising, it's fascinating attractions include the Ravelin Guardhouse, Seafield Collection of Arms and the pretty Garrison Chapel.

www.historic-scotland.gov.uk